The 13 original signed illustration for the “Pride and Prejudice” were published in 1907 as part of the “Series of English Idylls” books by J. M. Dent & Co. The illustrations Brock created were a full and original revision of his previous illustrations for the edition of “Pride and Prejudice” published by Macmillan in 1895.

A Photograph of C. E. Brock circa 1928, from “The Brocks: A Family of Cambridge Artists and Illustrators” by C. M. Kelly

Charles Edmund Brock, above, was elected as a member of the Royal Institute of Painters in Watercolour in the year following the publication of these illustrations. Seen by some as too impossibly pretty, and presenting, perhaps, a chocolate-box image of Jane Austen’s world, I have a sneaking liking for these illustrations. I will be writing about Brock’s work in detail later in the year. But I thought you might like to see the illustrations currently on sale, and I am very grateful to all at Peter Harringtons, in particular Emilie Fournet, for all their help in developing this article.

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12 comments

an original P&P’s watercolor? May I faint before reading your post? How about you buy one?
I have bought all Jane Austen “Series of English Idylls”. They (the books) are not in very good shape but never mind, They are my beloved together all my Jane’s book.

I went to the Peter Harrington website, watched the slides on the home page for approximately 10 seconds, and I felt like I had died and gone to heaven! So, I completely understand your description of, and love for the place. I also knew that I couldn’t stay there too long…LOL!

I got a kick out of your description, “I have a sneaking liking for these illustrations.” I, too, like them very much, but I like them unabashedly. I only wish I could afford some originals for myself! Thanks for the story, and the links Julie.

Reblogged this on Jane Austen in Vermont and commented:
A big thank you to Julie at Austenonly for blogging about this. And do visit the link to Harrington’s other Austen materials – a treasure-trove for the Austen-collector…

Beautiful! I adore the Brock illustrations, in particular the watercolours from 1907-1909. I could almost start to sing like the fiddler on the roof… “If I were a rich (wo)man…”

When I first saw the 1895 illustrations, I was not enthusiastic, later I discovered why the unappealing first impression, I had seen a not well-done coloured versions of them. Those first were only black and white in ink.

But when I saw the watercolours, I was blown away, I needed to find why they stroke me so diferenttly.

It took me years to collect the complete sets and, at the risk of self-promotion, I even wrote a monography on the Austen novels editions illustrated by both brothers, for Molland’s.